Furnace vent termination

ABSTRACT

One aspect of the disclosure provides a termination for use with a furnace. The termination, in one embodiment, includes a face plate including an exhaust region and an air supply region, the face plate having a front surface and an opposing back surface. The termination, in this embodiment, further includes an exhaust termination portion extending from the back surface in the exhaust region, the exhaust termination portion capable of engaging a terminal end of a variety of different size exhaust conduits associated with a furnace. The termination, in this embodiment, further includes an opening extending through the face plate in the exhaust region, the opening aligned with the exhaust termination portion.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser.No. 61/295,501, filed by Shailesh S. Manohar, et al., on Jan. 15, 2010,entitled “An Improved Heating Furnace for a HVAC System”, andincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This application is directed, in general, to accessories for furnaces,and, more specifically, to a termination for terminating exhaust and airsupply conduits employed by a furnace.

BACKGROUND

A typical furnace (e.g., a high-efficiency HVAC furnace) often employsan exhaust conduit for venting flue gases it generates away from thestructure housing it. In many applications, these flue gases exhaustthrough the roof of the structure. Nevertheless, in certain otherapplications, the flue gases exhaust through a chimney or through asidewall of the structure.

When venting the flue gases through a sidewall of a structure, it isalso common practice for an air supply conduit to be provided in orderto furnish outside air to the furnace for the combustion process.Typically, furnace installations either use separate exhaust conduit andthe air supply conduit terminations, wherein the exhaust conduct and airsupply conduit are offset, from one another, or use a combined airintake/exhaust termination, which is often referred to as a concentricvent termination. In each of these scenarios, however, the terminationsare bulky, unsightly, and take a significant amount of time to install.

Accordingly, what is needed in the art is a termination unit forterminating side by side exhaust and air supply conduits extendingthrough an exterior wall of a structure containing a furnace, which doesnot experience the problems of prior art designs.

SUMMARY

One aspect provides a termination for use with a furnace. Thetermination, in one embodiment, includes a face plate including anexhaust region and an air supply region, the face plate having a frontsurface and an opposing back surface. The termination, in thisembodiment, further includes an exhaust termination portion extendingfrom the back surface in the exhaust region, the exhaust terminationportion capable of engaging a terminal end of a variety of differentsize exhaust conduits associated with a furnace. The termination, inthis embodiment, further includes an opening extending through the faceplate in the exhaust region, the opening aligned with the exhausttermination portion.

Another embodiment provides a method of fabricating a termination foruse with a furnace. This embodiment comprises providing a face plateincluding an exhaust region and an air supply region, the face platehaving a front surface and an opposing back surface, forming an exhausttermination portion extending from the back surface in the exhaustregion, the exhaust termination portion capable of engaging a terminalend of a variety of different size exhaust conduits associated with afurnace, and creating an opening, the opening extending through the faceplate in the exhaust region and aligned with the exhaust terminationportion.

In another embodiment, a heating system is provided. In one embodiment,the heating system comprises a furnace, the furnace including a cabinet,a blower located within the cabinet and positioned to force or draw airthrough the cabinet, a gas control valve located proximate the cabinet,burners located within the cabinet and coupled to the gas control valve,and a heat exchanger positioned within the cabinet to receive a gasflame from the burners. The heating system, in accordance with thedisclosure, further includes a termination configured to couple to thefurnace via a variety of different size exhaust conduits. Thetermination, in this embodiment, includes: 1) a face plate including anexhaust region and an air supply region, the face plate having a frontsurface and an opposing back surface, 2) an exhaust termination portionextending from the back surface in the exhaust region, the exhausttermination portion capable of engaging a terminal end of the variety ofdifferent size exhaust conduits, and 3) an opening extending through theface plate in the exhaust region, the opening aligned with the exhausttermination portion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGS. 1A thru 1D illustrate various different views of a termination inaccordance with the disclosure; and

FIG. 2 illustrates a heating system in accordance with the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring initially to FIGS. 1A thru 1D, illustrated are variousdifferent views of an embodiment of a termination 100 provided inaccordance with this disclosure. Specifically, FIG. 1A illustrates aperspective view of the termination 100, whereas FIGS. 1B and 1Cillustrate a back surface view and front surface view of the termination100, respectively, and FIG. 1D illustrates a cross-sectional view of thetermination taken through the line D-D in FIG. 1B.

A termination in accordance with this disclosure, such as thetermination 100 of FIGS. 1A thru 1D, is typically configured to be usedwith a furnace, conventional or otherwise. Notwithstanding, such atermination is not limited to any particular type of furnace it is to beused with. For example, in one embodiment the termination 100 may beconfigured to be used with a high-efficiency residential HVAC furnace.In another embodiment, the termination 100 may be configured to be usedwith a commercial HVAC furnace. In yet another embodiment, thetermination 100 may be used with a water heating furnace, among others.

The termination 100 of FIGS. 1A thru 1D initially includes a face plate110. The face plate 110, in this embodiment, includes a front surface113 and an opposing back surface 118. The face plate 110 furtherincludes an exhaust region 120 and an air supply region 160. As thoseskilled in the art appreciate, the exhaust region 120 is configured todissipate flue gasses (e.g., exhaust gasses) received from an associatedfurnace, whereas the air supply region 160 is configured to providefresh combustion air to the associated furnace.

The face plate 110, in the embodiment shown, includes a width (w) and aheight (h). The width (w) and height (h) of the face plate 110 may varygreatly and remain within the purview of the disclosure. In oneembodiment, however, the width (w) ranges from about 8 inches to about16 inches, and the height (h) ranges from about 6 inches to about 10inches. In yet another embodiment, the width (w) ranges from about 11inches to about 13 inches, and the height (h) ranges from about inchesto about 9 inches. The face plate 110 may further include a lip 119extending inwardly there from.

The termination 100 of FIGS. 1A thru 1D includes an exhaust terminationportion 130 that extends from the back surface 118 of the face plate 110in the exhaust region 120. The exhaust termination portion 130, inaccordance with the disclosure, is configured to engage a terminal endof a variety of different size exhaust conduits associated with thefurnace. For example, the exhaust termination portion 130 is configuredto engage a terminal end of a first exhaust conduit having a first size,or a terminal end of a second exhaust conduit having a second differentsize, without any modification thereto. Accordingly, a singletermination 100 may be sold for, and used with, different chosen conduitconfigurations. While the embodiment of FIGS. 1A thru 1D illustratesthat the termination 100 can handle only two different size exhaustconduits, those skilled in the art understand that the presentdisclosure is not limited to only two, and that other embodiments existwherein the termination 100 can handle three or more different sizeexhaust conduits.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 1A thru 10, the exhaust termination portion130 comprises a sleeve 140 capable of accepting the terminal end of thevariety of different size exhaust conduits. For example, in theembodiment shown, the sleeve 140 is circular in nature, and thus wouldbe configured to accept the terminal end of a variety of differentdiameter exhaust conduits, whether those exhaust conduits comprisemetal, plastic (e.g., PVC), or another suitable material.

To accept these different diameter exhaust conduits, the sleeve 140might have a first portion 143 capable of accepting a smaller diameterexhaust conduit, and a second portion 148 capable of accepting a largerdiameter exhaust conduit. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1A thru 10, thefirst portion 143 is located more near the face place 110 than thesecond portion 148. Likewise, to facilitate the placement of the smallerdiameter exhaust conduit within the exhaust termination portion 130, thesleeve 140 may include a smooth transition 149 (e.g., a slanted sidewallin one embodiment) coupling the first and second portions 143, 148.

The termination 100 of FIGS. 1A thru 1D further includes an opening 150extending through the face plate 110. The opening 150, in thisembodiment, is aligned with the exhaust termination portion 130, andthereby causes any flue gasses received from the furnace to exit thetermination 100 from the front surface 113 of the face plate 110.Positionable within the opening 150, in the embodiment shown, is areducing element 155. The reducing element 155, if used, may beconfigured to accelerate a flow of flue gasses away from the face plate110. Accordingly, the flue gasses are less likely to mix with freshcombustion air, as the flue gasses are leaving the termination withgreater velocity. As those skilled in the art appreciate, the reducingelement 155 may be positioned within the opening 150 from the backsurface 118 of the face plate 110, or from the front surface 113 of theface plate 110.

The termination 100 of FIGS. 1A thru 1D may further include an airsupply termination portion 170 that extends from the back surface 118 ofthe face plate 110 in the air supply region 160. The air supplytermination portion 170, in accordance with one embodiment of thedisclosure, is configured to engage a terminal end of a variety ofdifferent size air supply conduits. Thus, much like the exhausttermination portion 130, the air supply termination portion 170 isconfigured to engage a terminal end of a first air supply conduit havinga first size, or a terminal end of a second air supply conduit having asecond different size, without any modification thereto. While theembodiment of FIGS. 1A thru 1D illustrates that the termination canhandle only two different size air supply conduits, those skilled in theart understand that the present disclosure is not limited to only two,and that other embodiments exist wherein the termination can handlethree or more different size air supply conduits.

The air supply termination portion 170 illustrated in FIGS. 1A thru 1Dcomprises a plurality of stop elements 175 configured to engage theplurality of different size air supply conduits. In this embodiment, theplurality of stop elements 175 are configured to position the terminalend of the chosen air supply conduit away from the back surface 118 ofthe face plate 110, and are further arranged to lie on a circle havingsubstantially the same diameter as the plurality of different size airsupply conduits. In accordance with one embodiment, the plurality ofstop elements 175 might each include two or more steps to engagedifferent diameters of air supply conduits. For example, the pluralityof stop elements 175 might have a first step portion 180 capable ofaccepting a smaller diameter air supply conduit, and a second stepportion 185 capable of accepting a larger diameter air supply conduit.In the embodiment of FIGS. 1A thru 1D, the first step portion 180 islocated more near the face place 110 than the second step portion 185.In the embodiment of FIGS. 1A thru 1D, a plurality of fins 188 at leastpartially surround the air supply termination portion 170, and not theentire back surface of the termination 100. Other embodiments existwherein the plurality of fins 188 surround the entire back surface ofthe termination 100, among many different possible configurations. Asthose skilled in the art appreciate, the plurality of fins 188 areconfigured to reduce the amount of debris that may enter the air supplytermination portion 170.

In an exemplary embodiment, the position of the first step portion 180of the stop elements 175 would substantially coincide with a position ofthe first portion 143 of the sleeve 140, and the position of the secondstep portion 185 of the stop elements 175 would substantially coincidewith a position of the second portion 148 of the sleeve 140. Forexample, the distance (D₁) of the first step portion 180 and the firstportion 143 from a back most location of the termination 100 might rangefrom about 1.5 inches to about 2.5 inches (e.g., about 2 inches) in oneembodiment. Likewise, the distance (D₂) of the second step portion 185and the second portion 148 from a back most location of the termination100 might range from about 0.5 inches to about 1.5 inches (e.g., about 1inch) in this embodiment.

The termination 100 may further include mounting features 190 formounting the termination 100 to an exterior surface. In the embodimentshown, the mounting features 190 are mounting posts, integrated with theexhaust termination portion 130 and air supply termination portion 170.Nevertheless, other features other than the mounting posts shown may beused. As those skilled in the art appreciate, the mounting features 190not only help mount the termination 100 to an exterior surface of astructure, but they additionally position the face plate 110 a desireddistance from the exterior surface of the structure. For example, in oneembodiment the mounting features 190 are of a length sufficient to causethe face plate 110 to be separated from the exterior surface of thestructure by a distance (D₃) ranging form about 2 inches to about 5inches, and in another embodiment ranging from about 2.5 inches to about4 inches.

A termination, such as the termination 100 of FIGS. 1A thru 1D, may beinstalled using a number of different processes. For example, in oneembodiment the termination would be installed by first ascertaining thesize (e.g., diameter) of the exhaust conduit and air supply conduitexiting the structure. Knowing the size of the exhaust conduit and airsupply conduit, the exhaust conduit and air supply conduit may be cut toa predetermined length, for instance a length consistent with thedistance (D1) or distance (D2) shown in FIG. 1D. For example, if theexhaust conduit and air supply conduit are of the smaller diameter thatthe termination is configured to terminate, the cut lengths of theexhaust conduit and air supply conduit will be longer than if theexhaust conduit and air supply conduit are of the larger diameter thatthe termination is configured to terminate. For example, in theembodiment of FIGS. 1A thru 1D, the smaller diameter exhaust conduit andair supply conduit would be cut to a length around about 2 inches, andthe larger diameter exhaust conduit and air supply conduit would be cutto a length around about 1 inches. Obviously, these dimensions may varybased upon the design of the termination, and the actual values of thedistance (D1) and distance (D2) shown in FIG. 1D.

After cutting the exhaust conduit and air supply conduit to theappropriate predetermined lengths, epoxy may then be placed on theterminal ends of the exhaust conduit and air supply conduit, on theinterior surfaces of the exhaust termination portion and air supplytermination portion, or on both. Thereafter, the termination may beslipped onto the exhaust conduit and air supply conduit, the epoxyproviding a good seal. Screws may then be placed within the mountingfeatures of the termination, thereby fixing the termination to thestructure.

A termination in accordance with this disclosure, such as thetermination 100 of FIGS. 1A thru 1D, may be manufactured using a varietyof different processes. In one embodiment, the entire termination may beformed using an injection molding process. As such, the terminationcould comprise a single unit configured to attach (e.g., using screws,bolts, nails, etc.) directly to an exterior surface of a structure(e.g., a sidewall of a home or business). As the termination in thisembodiment comprises a single unit, it is easier to install than otherconfigurations. While slight focus has been placed on the fact that thetermination may be manufactured using an injection molding process, anyother manufacturing process is considered within the scope of thedisclosure.

Turning to FIG. 2, illustrated is an enclosure 200, such as aresidential or commercial building, employing a heating system 210 inaccordance with the disclosure. The heating system 210, in oneembodiment, includes a furnace 220 coupled to a termination 280. Thefurnace 220 is described without limitation in terms of a gas-firedsystem. Those skilled in the pertinent art will appreciate that theprinciples disclosed herein may be extended to furnace systems usingother fuel types.

The furnace 220 includes various subsystems that may be conventional. Inone embodiment, the furnace 220 includes a cabinet 230 having an exhaustoutlet 233 and a combustion air inlet 238. The cabinet 230, in thisembodiment, encloses a blower 240 configured to force air through saidcabinet 230. The cabinet 230, in this embodiment, further includes acontroller 245, a gas control valve 250, burners 255, and an exhaustblower 260 coupled to the exhaust outlet 233. A heat exchanger assembly265 is located within a plenum 270. The controller 245, in thisembodiment, controls the burners 255 and the exhaust blower 260 to burna heating fuel, e.g. natural gas, and move exhaust gases through theheat exchanger assembly 265 to the exhaust outlet 233. The controller245 may further control the blower 240 to move air over the heatexchanger assembly 265, thereby transferring heat from the exhaust gasesto the air stream.

The heating system 210 of FIG. 2 further includes the termination 280coupled to the furnace 220 via an exhaust conduit 283 attached to theexhaust outlet 233, as well as via an air supply conduit 288 attached tothe combustion air inlet 238. The termination 280, in accordance withthe disclosure, may include a face plate including an exhaust region andan air supply region, the face plate having a front surface and anopposing back surface. The termination 280, in accordance with thedisclosure, may further include an exhaust termination portion extendingfrom the back surface in the exhaust region, the exhaust terminationportion capable of engaging a terminal end of a variety of differentsize exhaust conduits associated with the furnace, the exhaust conduit283 in this embodiment. The termination, in accordance with thedisclosure, may further include an opening extending through the faceplate in the exhaust region, the opening aligned with the exhausttermination portion. In one embodiment, the termination 280 issubstantially similar to the termination 100 of FIGS. 1A thru 1D. Inanother embodiment, the termination 280 only includes a portion of thefeatures of the termination 100 of FIGS. 1A thru 1D.

A heating system, such as the heating system 210 of FIG. 2, isconfigured to force flue gasses 290 from the furnace 220 through theexhaust conduit 283 and out the front surface of the termination 280,while drawing fresh combustion air 295 around the back surface of thetermination 280, through the air supply conduit 288 and to the furnace210 for combustion. In an exemplary embodiment, the termination 280 isconfigured such that limited, if any, exhaust gasses 290 are drawn backin as fresh combustion air 295.

Those skilled in the art to which this application relates willappreciate that other and further additions, deletions, substitutionsand modifications may be made to the described embodiments.

1. A termination for use with a furnace, comprising: a face plateincluding an exhaust region and an air supply region, the face platehaving a front surface and an opposing back surface; an exhausttermination portion extending from the back surface in the exhaustregion, the exhaust termination portion capable of engaging a terminalend of a variety of different size exhaust conduits associated with afurnace; and an opening extending through the face plate in the exhaustregion, the opening aligned with the exhaust termination portion.
 2. Thetermination as recited in claim 1, further including an air supplytermination portion extending from the back surface in the air supplyregion.
 3. The termination as recited in claim 2 wherein the air supplytermination portion is capable of engaging a terminal end of a varietyof different size air supply conduits.
 4. The termination as recited inclaim 3 wherein the air supply termination portion includes a pluralityof stop elements configured to engage the variety of different size airsupply conduits, and position the terminal end of the air supply conduitaway from the back surface of the face plate.
 5. The termination asrecited in claim 4 wherein each of the plurality of stop elementsincludes steps to engage different diameters of air supply conduits. 6.The termination as recited in claim 2, further including a plurality offins at least partially surrounding the air supply termination portion.7. The termination as recited in claim 1 wherein the exhaust terminationportion comprises a sleeve capable of accepting the terminal end of thevariety of different size exhaust conduits.
 8. The termination asrecited in claim 7 wherein the sleeve has a first portion having asmaller diameter capable of accepting a smaller diameter exhaust conduitand a second portion have a larger diameter capable of accepting alarger diameter exhaust conduit.
 9. The termination as recited in claim8 wherein the first portion is located more near the face plate than thesecond portion.
 10. The termination as recited in claim 1 furtherincluding a reducing element removably positioned within the opening toaccelerate a flow of exhaust away from the face plate.
 11. Thetermination as recited in claim 10 wherein the reducing element ispositioned within the opening from the back surface of the face plate.12. The termination as recited in claim 1, wherein the face plate isconfigured to attach directly to an exterior surface of a structure. 13.A method of fabricating a termination for use with a furnace,comprising: providing a face plate including an exhaust region and anair supply region, the face plate having a front surface and an opposingback surface; forming an exhaust termination portion extending from theback surface in the exhaust region, the exhaust termination portioncapable of engaging a terminal end of a variety of different sizeexhaust conduits associated with a furnace; and creating an opening, theopening extending through the face plate in the exhaust region, theopening further aligned with the exhaust termination portion.
 14. Themethod as recited in claim 13, further including forming an air supplytermination portion extending from the back surface in the air supplyregion, the air supply termination portion capable of engaging a varietyof different size air supply conduits.
 15. The method as recited inclaim 13, further including creating a plurality of fins at leastpartially surrounding the air supply termination portion.
 16. The methodas recited in claim 13 wherein forming an exhaust termination portionincludes forming an exhaust termination comprising a sleeve capable ofaccepting the terminal end of the variety of different size exhaustconduits.
 17. The method as recited in claim 16 wherein the sleeve has afirst portion having a smaller diameter capable of accepting a smallerdiameter exhaust conduit and a second portion have a larger diametercapable of accepting a larger diameter exhaust conduit.
 18. The methodas recited in claim 13 further including positioning a reducing elementwithin the opening to accelerate a flow of exhaust away from the faceplate.
 19. The method as recited in claim 13 wherein providing, formingand creating includes providing, forming and creating using an injectionmolding process.
 20. A heating system, comprising: a furnace, including;a cabinet having an exhaust outlet and a combustion air inlet; a blowerlocated within the cabinet and positioned to force air through thecabinet; a gas control valve located proximate the cabinet; burnerslocated within the cabinet and coupled to the gas control valve; and aheat exchanger positioned within the cabinet to receive a gas flame fromthe burners; and a termination configured to couple to the furnace viaan exhaust conduit coupled to the exhaust outlet, the terminationincluding: a face plate including an exhaust region and an air supplyregion, the face plate having a front surface and an opposing backsurface; an exhaust termination portion extending from the back surfacein the exhaust region, the exhaust termination portion capable ofengaging a terminal end of the variety of different size exhaustconduits; and an opening extending through the face plate in the exhaustregion, the opening aligned with the exhaust termination portion.